TikTok is introducing a fresh option that enables them to cut down on the volume of artificial intelligence-produced content appearing in their timelines. This initiative comes as the service announced that it now features more than 1 bn AI videos.
Pilot Phase and Launch
The new functionality is being tested over the coming weeks before a full-scale release. This development comes amid a rise in AI content, driven by recent content generation software.
AI Proliferation Online
It has been noted that approximately 10% of the fastest-growing video streams on another major platform exclusively feature content made by AI. A significant portion of this material is classified as “AI slop”, a phrase for substandard, factory-style content that is often illogical or dreamlike.
“We know from our community that a lot of users appreciate content made with AI tools, from digital art to science explainers, and we aim to offer the community the ability to increase or decrease of that, based on their own choices,” said a company executive.
Volume and Proportions
The service announced that there are presently over a billion videos on its app tagged as artificially created. In total, in excess of 100 million media items are submitted to the platform every day, making AI-generated material a minor part of its total content library.
Customizing Your Feed
Viewers will be in a position to reduce or increase the volume of artificial media they watch by accessing the topic control option in the app and selecting AI-made media. Other topics that are already be modified under the filter include current affairs, fashion, cosmetics, and dance.
Content Labeling and Policies
Its policies mandate users to identify “realistic” AI-generated content, and it prohibits malicious deepfakes of celebrities or emergencies. Any authentic-looking AI-generated clip that is not labeled can be deleted under its user guidelines.
Furthermore, the service will henceforth apply an “AI-made” watermark to content made using its proprietary AI systems, or detected by an collaborative effort for identifying content made by AI. This action is aimed to help prevent users from seeking to circumvent the tagging system.
Educational Initiatives
TikTok is furthermore launching a $2 million educational fund for professionals and institutions to produce informative material about responsible artificial intelligence. This program will support non-profit groups focused on training computer science.
Moderation Strategy
The platform has supported its content review process, following discussion over intentions to cut jobs for a large number of safety staff in the UK. TikTok is expected to eliminate 439 jobs in its content moderation team in the UK capital, with worker representatives and online safety experts expressing worry that staff are being displaced by machine-led review.
A senior executive stated that human moderation would remain essential, but artificial intelligence can shield workers by eliminating the most graphic content prior to it has to be seen by people. TikTok reported a significant reduction in disturbing and violent content seen by content reviewers over the last 12 months due to intervention by its automated systems.
“We think that it’s essential to integrate humans and technology to keep the platform safe,” the official commented. “We’ll have humans as part of that process, but we also think it’s very important to minimize viewing of unsafe media as quickly as possible, which is where a lot of the machine support is making a difference operate efficiently.”
